Southern Downs flood recovery assistance

30 March 2021

As efforts shift from disaster response to recovery, Council is reaching out to residents, business owners and primary producers to gauge the level of damage sustained from last week’s severe rain event.

Council is asking residents that were impacted by flooding to fill out a brief online form so an accurate picture of the damage sustained across the region can be ascertained.  The form can be accessed by visiting Council’s web site at https://www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/council/disaster-management/flood-impacts/flood-water-impacts.

At this stage, the release of Category B or C recovery grants for small businesses and primary producers under the Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements jointly administered by the Queensland and Australian Governments have not been triggered, however primary producers can contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) for support.

Primary producers impacted by the event may be eligible to access assistance DAF’s Individual Disaster Stricken Property Certificate process.  More information can be found at https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/disaster-recovery/natural-disaster/disaster-assistance-forms-and-guidelines or by calling DAF on 13 25 23.

Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said, “It is vitally important that primary producers, business owners and anyone else impacted by this event lets us know what level of damage they sustained.

“This information will be used to inform whether the Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements will be triggered and it will help Council plan to respond to future events.

“Council staff have been on the ground throughout the event, with officers closing roads to keep our community safe, then reopening them as floodwaters receded.  Assessments of damage to roads and other Council infrastructure continue to be gathered and Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets (REPA) funding through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority has been activated for the Southern Downs.

“Our staff have once again gone above and beyond in ensuring the safety of our community and I take my hat off to them.”